Posted on 09/25/2001 5:06:08 PM PDT by ZULU
Indeed.
Christianity focuses on belief. Islam focuses on conduct.
Western societies believe in freedom of speech, and freedom of religious conscience. Islam requires conformance to islamic law, the shari'a, which Muslims believe was worked out to its last detail by about the 10th century, and is no longer subject to change or question. Under this law, the killing of those who question orthodox doctrine, propose changes, or dissent is considered a highly moral and religious act.
Islam today is, in very many senses, where Christianity was about the year 1400.
In my view, President Bush should publicly declare that if Islamic terrorists use weapons of mass destruction (nukes, biological, chemical) of any kind in the US, our reluctant, albeit IMMEDIATE response would be to nuke Mecca, in a way that makes it permanently uninhabitable. No more pilgrimages there, as the Koran explicitly requires of every good Muslim at least once in a lifetime.
By announcing the "Bush Doctrine," the US would be threatening to undermine and destroy the Islamic belief system, in a way so fundamental that it is hard for Westerners to understand.
In my view, it is one of the very few threats the US can make that Islamic terrorists might take seriously.
Zoroastrianism is a religious faith going back at least as far as the start of the first millenium B.C., possibly even earlier.
Zoroastrianism preaches that there is only one God, a God of light who created the world. This God is referred to by the name of Ahura-Mazda. The world is the site of a cataclysmic conflcit between the powers of Good and Light, as represented by Ahura-Mazda, and an evil dark force called Ahriman. Some Zoroastrians believe Ahriman is a entity similar to Satan, other believe this evil force exists within all men.
This faith was preached by a prophet named Zoroaster in Greek or Zarathustra in Ancient Persian. It was the state religion of ancient Persia.
Zoroastrians believe in an immortal soul, an afterlife, a Hell, a Heaven, a judgement at death, a resurrection of the dead, a last judgement, a final great battle between Ahura Mazda and the souls of the good versus Ahriman and the souls of the evil dead, the appearance of a succession of saviors sent by God to save men, and the existence of angels.
If all this sounds familiar to you, it should. It is believed that many ideas found in both Judaism and Christianity had their source in Zoroastrianism, and the possible genesis of this was during the Babylonian captivity when the exiled Hebrews may had some exposure to these teachings.
Prior to the Babylonian captivity, Yahweh was essentially the personal tribal God of the Isrealites, later He became pictured as a creator God of all men.
It is believed by some that the Magi were Zoroastrian priests, looking for one of the Saviors promised by God to Zoroaster.
Zoroastrianism is a very tolerant faith. They believe that anyone who leads a meritorious life can be saved, regardless of their own personal religion. As a matter pf fact, most Zoroastrians are reluctant to convert non-Zoroastrians, because they believe that if one is born a Christian or Jew, etc, it is part of God's will that you live your life as such, but lead a good decent life.
Their enemies have accused them of being Fire-Worshippers because sacred fires are a very important part of their ritual and belief. However, Zoroastrians revere sacred fires as a representation of the one true God, somewhat like some Christians revere the cross.
There are numerous sites on the internet about Zorastrianism and Zoroastrians. The actual faith appears to be dying becasue of Islamic persecution in their Persian homeland, and because of a reluctance to convert non-believers. Zoroastrians who come from India are known as Parsis (spelling?) and Persian Zoroastrians and Indian Zoroastrians have some differences in their beliefs due to their cultural background and interpretations of the teachings of Zoroaster. The Indian Zoroastrians fled there centuries ago, again, to esacpe Islamic persecution in their homeland.
The attitude of Islam towards such a non-violent and meritorious faith gives one another reason to regard it with caution.
There is no connection between them and the Biblical tale of the Tower of Babel (probably a Babylonian Ziggurat - the ancient Babylonians, unlike the Zoroastrians, were pagans, but a rather tolerant bunch compared to Islam.)
What is a Messianic Zionist? Are you one of the "Jews for Jesus" group, or are you a Jewish Zionist awaiting the Messiach (Spelling?).
The outside of the cup is clean...
Other crusades didn't accomplish much.
The "big cajuna" was the Reconquista. Here Christians spent several hundred years in a war which had as its purpose the removal of the Moslems from Spain.
In 1492 the Christians won!
The Arabs, who started the whole Islam "thing" haven't done very much since about the year 1000 since the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks pretty well conquered all of Arabia and North Africa.
Try to remember it this way - Geoffrey Bouillion fought a war on behalf of Arabs against Turks. He was given Jerusalem as the prize.
Another one to remember is that King San Cho Noe (a Cornishman, or Welshman) initiated the Reconquista in Carvajal by founding both Castile (Castle) and Leon (Lion). Through the centuries towns passed from Moslem hands to Christian and back again until Islam was exterminated. Later on Europeans conquered virtually every Moslem land and held them as colonies for 100 or more years.
No doubt the Caliph whose court was in Cairo should have held his peace, stifled his greed for the tourist revenues and just let the Seljuk insurgencies run its course. Then we wouldn't have all this nonsense about Conquering by the Sword and the Crusades to worry about.
Odds are the Arabs would be in worse shape than they are now, but so would the Turks - might even still hold Turkish Central Asia!
Has it occured to you that it may be the other way around? See the Book of Daniel.
Prior to the Babylonian captivity, Yahweh was essentially the personal tribal God of the Isrealites, later He became pictured as a creator God of all men.
The book of Genesis, and the knowledge that Yahweh made everything in heaven and Earth, including mankind predated the Babylonian captivity BY FAR!
Obviously, this knowledge was among the Israelites in King David's time which was way before the captivity.
Terrorism is a logical outcome of putting the Qur'an into practice. The Qur'an promotes permanent struggle against non-Muslims - or at least until non-Muslims are converted to Islam, subjected to Islamic authority, or killed. Here is a listing of relevant verses: Islam promises hell to non-Muslims 3:85, 4:56, 5:37, 5:72, 8:55, 9:28,15:2,21:98-100,22:19-22,22:56-57,25:17-19,25:55,29:53-55,31:13,66:9,68:10-13,72:14- 15, Islam warms against mixing with non-Muslims 2:21,3:28,3:118,5:51,5:144,9:7,9:28,58:23,60:4. Islam calls on Muslims to wage war against non-Muslims 2:191, 2:193, 4:66, 4:84, 5:33, 8:12, 8:15-18, 8:39, 8:59-60, 8:65, 9:2-3, 9:5, 9:14, 9:29, 9:39, 9:73, 9:111, 9:123, 25:52, 37:22-23, 47:4-5, 48:29, 69:30-37. Islam encourages war against the non-Muslims by glorifying it 2:216, 9:41, 49:15, or by promising lust in paradise to the Shaheeds who die in such a war 3:142,3:157-158,9:20--21. For those without a handy Koran, here are just a few examples: O ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers .... and let them find harshness in you. [Koran, Repentance: 123] Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they surrender and pay tribute. [Koran, Repentance: 29] O believers, do not treat your fathers and brothers as your friends, if they prefer unbelief to belief, whosoever of you takes them for friends, they are evildoers. [Koran, Repentance: 20] Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends.... whoso does that belongs not to God. [Koran, The House of Imram: 60] As hundreds of thousands of Iranian Bahais found out when Ayatollah Khomeni took power, any non Muslim who is not a Jew or a Christian is to be immediately executed if they do not convert on the spot to Islam. Jews and Christians are allowed to keep their religion as second class slaves with no civil rights and extra taxes not paid by Moslems. A non-Muslims testimony is not acceptable or even allowed in court against Muslims or even against other non-Muslims. Non-Muslims do not have the right to assume leading jobs in the state. A Muslims life is spared even if he kills a Christian intentionally while a Muslim may only be required to die if he kills another Muslim. The reason, as Muhammad said is that "only Muslims blood is regarded equal." Thus, no Muslim should be killed for murdering a non-Muslim. On the other hand, if a non-Muslim merely curses a Muslim, he must either be sentenced to death or be converted to Islam! However, if a Muslim murders a non-Muslim, he will only pay a fine. Dr. Abdul Moumin says, "All Muslims Jurists agree that a judge should be a Muslim and it is forbidden for a non-Muslim to be a judge according to the Quranic verse, There is no authority of the infidels over the Muslims not have the right to propagate their religion in Muslim lands. It is apparent to everyone, therefore, that the position of a judge is prohibited for a non-Muslim or a woman because Muhammad said plainly, "May God curse the people who appoint a woman to govern them" (Bukhari, Volume 6, p. 10, and Volume 9, p. 70). A well known saying of Muhammad is: "Do not meet Jews or Christians with greetings. If you ever meet them in the street, force them to the narrowest part of it" (refer to Sahih of Muslim, "Interpretation of Nawawi", Vol. 5, p. 7; also Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya: Zad al-Maad, Part 2, pp. 424, 425). This sentiment is also backed up in the Koran: "They [the Children of Israel] were consigned to humiliation and wretchedness. They brought the wrath of God upon themselves, and this because they used to deny God's signs and kill His Prophets unjustly and because they disobeyed and were transgressors" (Sura 2:61). According to the Koran, the Jews try to introduce corruption (5:64), have always been disobedient (5:78), and are enemies of Allah, the Prophet and the angels (2:9798). Here are some of the claims that Islam makes against Christians. Some Christians will steal if entrusted with money (3:75). Most Christians are wicked in their lifestyles (3:110; 5:59,66; 57:27). Christians have a great hatred for Muslims in their hearts which they deceitfully hide (3:118,119). Christians rejoice when disaster befalls Muslims. They also act toward Muslims with guile (3:120). Christians compete with one another to make illicit profits (5:62). Christian priests don't forbid their people's sins and instead commit them themselves (5:63). Christian monks devour wealth wantonly and bar people's way to the truth (9:34). Christians display pride, enmity and hatred in their factionalism among themselves (5:14; 30:32). No wonder there is dancing in the streets of Nablus, Palestine and everywhere in the Muslim world after the events of Tuesday! The whole history of Islam is summed up in their flag--the sword (conquest by force) and crescent (the deceit and stealth of a night attack barely lit by a crescent moon). If you have a "friend" who says he is a good Moslem, he's lying. No good Moslem could be a real friend unless he can convert you to Islam. If he can't convert you, then anything--lying, cheating and killing--is permissible to him to bring you and yours under Islamic domination. The men who perpetrated this horrible crime are the real face of Islam. Don't let the Moslem clerics fool you. As Abraham Lincoln said "A house divided against itself can not stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free." Substitute "world" for "government". Fascism, Communism are nothing to Islam which in terms of deadly devotion of the masses is like Fascism AND like Communism in its universalism. War with Islam is inevitable because it's totally incompatible with the Biblical basis of our Western Civilization They must conquer us or be conquered by our values and beliefs. Jesus said "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." The :Lord doesn't want "any to perish but everyone to come to repentance". He commands us to "make disciples of all nations". In dealing with the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, we must follow the way of the Gospel and as best we can, love them into His Kingdom. Of course, the Bible allows us self-defense. But we must defend ourselves in sorrow rather than in anger. Before we begin to defend ourselves, we should look to God and repent of our national sins. We are the biggest purveyor of pornography and other disgusting "entertainment" in the world. We have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world and nearly the highest abortion rate. It's understandable how many Muslims can view America as the "Great Satan", the cesspool that is polluting the world. We can not over come evil with evil, but only with hearts clean before the Lord. We must fast and pray and be ambassadors for Christ as we have never done in the past. Only then can we hope to defeat the greatest anti-Christ force in the world today.
However, there are sections of the Old Testament which indicate that the early Hebrews may have been polytheistic. This is not an idea I conjured up myself. Archaeologists, theologians and other biblical scholars have pointed out sections of the Old Testament which they use to support this.
Such as the "we created man in our image and likeness" phrase in Genesis. Or the independent Elohist and Yahwehist traditions. Or the frequent references to the Israelites worshipping other deities. Or the tradition in early Judaism about God having a female consort.
The Old Testament is full of passages that are very puzzling like the section about the sons of God who had relations with the daughters of man prior to Noah. What does this mean?
Also, other frequent references, like in Kings, about other books that the ancient Hebrews had.
What about the first commandment. Doesn't it say "I am the Lord thy God, though shalt have no STRANGE gods before me"? Doesn't this imply a belief in the existance of other Gods?
Biblical scholars have even been able to date various sections of the Old Testament and their conclusion is that the Book of Job, not Genesis is the oldest section of the Bible.
There may have been collaboration between the Caliph in Egypt and the Crusaders. Various Islamic entities and Christian entities formed alliances with one another throughout this period. However, as I recall it, the main impetus for the First Crusade was the persecution of Christians by the new rulers of Palestine - the Seljuk Turks.
"The "big cajuna" was the Reconquista. Here Christians spent several hundred years in a war which had as its purpose the removal of the Moslems from Spain."
This is true. However, remember that the Moslems had also conquered Sicily and Southern Italy from the Byzantines and they were first eliminated here by the Normans who set up the Norman Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Naples and Sicily) when they drove them out.
Also, remember that the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, just a few years before the fall of Granada. They then went on to sweep through southeastern Europe and lay siege to Vienna.
There may have been collaboration between the Caliph in Egypt and the Crusaders. Various Islamic entities and Christian entities formed alliances with one another throughout this period. However, as I recall it, the main impetus for the First Crusade was the persecution of Christians by the new rulers of Palestine - the Seljuk Turks.
"The "big cajuna" was the Reconquista. Here Christians spent several hundred years in a war which had as its purpose the removal of the Moslems from Spain."
This is true. However, remember that the Moslems had also conquered Sicily and Southern Italy from the Byzantines and they were first eliminated here by the Normans who set up the Norman Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Naples and Sicily) when they drove them out.
Also, remember that the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, just a few years before the fall of Granada. They then went on to sweep through southeastern Europe and lay siege to Vienna.
Virile religion??TRY VILE RELIGION!! No try Vile hate club WE HAVE no TOLERENCE FOR THOSE EVIL iSLAMIC ARAB TERRORISTS!
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